The Harder They Come was performed over 350 times by Jerry Garcia/Merl Saunders groups and by the Jerry Garcia Band between 1973 and 1995. The lyrics and music for the song are included in the Jerry Garcia Songbook.

Jimmy Cliff first recorded the song at Muscle Shoals in 1971. This version, which is more of a soul song than a reggae song, was released on a single as The Bigger The Come The Harder They Fall. He recorded the more familiar reggae version in Jamaica in 1972 this time using the title The Harder They Come. The song is included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.